Duty to Promote Equality and Diversity

UNCRC

Article 14 – every child has the right to think and believe what they want and to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights.

Article 23 – A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life with dignity and independence, mad to play an active part in the community.

Article 30 – Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, regardless of whether these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live.

Vision and Values

Barnsley Academy welcomes the opportunity to promote equality and works within the framework of The Equality Act 2010. As such our aim is to;

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.

Relating to the Equality Act (2010) there are nine ‘protected characteristics’ these are:

• Race
• Gender / sex
• Disability
• Marriage / civil partnership
• Pregnancy / maternity
• Religion and belief
• Age
• Sexual orientation
• Gender reassignment

Article 2 – Non-discrimination

Objectives

• To develop ‘Character Education’ by embedding the United Learning ‘Pupil Charter’
• To further embed the values of the academu, particularly by offering more opportunities for students to give service to others
• To further develop leadership opportunities for students encouraging participation from those with protected characteristics and those with none
• To use performance data to monitor the progress and participation rates of student groups with protected characteristics and those with none. Where students are underrepresented, put plans in place to address.
• To ensure our students feel represented in our curriculum, ensuring opportunities are maximised to promote diversity, cultural awareness, and cultural capital.

 Article 12– Respect for the views of the child

Support

Barnsley Academy is an inclusive school, committed in policy and practice to recognition of the equal value of each member of the community, to equality of opportunity to all and to promoting good relations in all aspects of its life and work.

We recognise the vital role that education plays in promoting equality.

Other mechanisms of support include:

• Specialist equipment and auxiliary aids are provided for accessing the curriculum if appropriate.
• Support is welcomed by outside agencies.
• Emotional support is provided for SEND students
• The ANC provides support for home learners and those on blended packages
• Materials are enlarged and adapted when necessary
• On site School Counsellor and Wellbeing team
• All staff are given information on those students with additional needs, including access to data
• The staff of the school are kept fully informed about the needs of the students
• Curriculum planning and assessment consider these needs
• Differentiation of resources
• Communication and language are simplified and adapted
• Full participation in learning and practical activities is encouraged
• Students are helped to manage their behaviour
• Students are helped to manage their emotions and stress
• Support is given through teaching assistants in class and SEN teaching staff both in groups and whole class situations
• Strategies and monitoring procedures are in place
• Help is given through dispensations in external examinations
• Help and advice is available from our in school Careers Advisor
• There is an ‘open door’ policy with carers and involvement is encouraged.

We actively seek to provide a secure, non-discriminatory environment within which everyone may flourish by:

• Promoting understanding and tolerance, to eliminate racial discrimination, including celebrating Black History Month, Pride, Anti bullying week and working with United Learning to ensure our curriculum promotes equality for all
• Providing equality of opportunity to enable everyone to realise their potential
• Recognising and celebrating diversity, to promote good relations between people of different racial groups and prepare students for living in a multi-ethnic society
• We employ staff from a range of nationalities
• We engage with outside agencies to support EAL students and their families
• Key documents are translated into relevant languages where possible and appropriate
• Annual assemblies are given to remind students and staff about the importance of tolerance and harm reduction
• All ‘hate’ incidents are reported termly to the governors and are recorded on CPOMS
• The school has a staff in place that investigate and action as necessary
• The school has trained adult ‘allies’ to support LGBTQ+ students
• Focused attention is paid to the needs of specific groups
• Activities promote pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, primarily through Rights Respecting work and the PSHCE and character curriculum programme
• Teaching materials in all subjects have positive images of people with and without protected characteristics.

Article 3 – Best interests of the child
Article 23 - Children with disabilities
Article 28 - Right to education
Article 29 - Goals of education
Article 30 - Children from minority or indigenous groups

Access to the Curriculum

At Barnsley Academy we believe that all children have an equal right to all areas of the curriculum and should not be discriminated against for any reason linked to their protected characteristics. We recognise that on occasions, that concessions will need to be made to accommodate the needs of individual children and we are committed to providing the most inclusive curriculum possible.

Access to the Physical Environment

It is our intention to provide an environment, which is accessible to everyone. We have a wet room with hoist and therapy bed. All students with additional medical needs have a care plan and those with SEN or a disability may have an Personalised Plan in place.

Access to Written Information

Written information on general setting organisation and practice such as policy documents, Ofsted reports, setting prospectus etc. are made available to parents on request and can be found on the school’s website.

Written information on individual children is confidential to the school and that individual’s parents. Any information kept on children is available to parents on request.